The Carolina Hurricanes have the 5th overall pick Sunday in the 2013 NHL Draft (3 p.m. NBC Sports Network). John Forslund, the television play-by-play announcer for the Hurricanes, believes this year’s draft is comparable to the 2003 NHL Draft that included superstars Eric Staal, Dion Phaneuf, Zach Parise, Corey Perry and Shea Weber to name a few. That draft produced 21 all-stars in the first two rounds.

General Manager Jim Rutherford has been actively searching for a top-4 defenseman and has made it an offseason priority. “If the 5th pick is the type of player everybody says it’s supposed to be, take the younger player,” said Forslund.

Forslund said the Hurricanes should not deal their draft pick unless it brings in a premier defenseman. “Maybe it’s a deal where they move back a couple of spots because it’s a deep selection process here through the first dozen,” Forslund said.

He also suggested moving up to draft the best available prospect, six-foot-four defenseman Seth Jones.

The Colorado Avalanche, with the 1st overall pick, have indicated they plan to draft forward Nathan MacKinnon over Jones.

“Jones is a franchise defenseman,” said Forslund. “He’s got size, presence, and he can be a heck of a player for a long time. Whoever gets Seth Jones is going to have a great time with him over the years.”

kheffnJun 30, 2013

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I don't think that will happen. The top 5 prospects in this draft are being projected to be generational players. You always pick the best player available, not the best player at the position you need. Even if it is another forward, you have to take the best player.

Jones, Mackinnon, Barkov, Drouin, and Nichushkin are the top 5. I would pick any of those over Nurse, and one of them will be guaranteed to be available.

— Posted by hurricane04343

And they took none of them instead choosing to pick someone that plays a position where they they don't have a need and won't be available for another year. Nurse would have been a much better choice.

kheffnJun 28, 2013

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I don't think that will happen. The top 5 prospects in this draft are being projected to be generational players. You always pick the best player available, not the best player at the position you need. Even if it is another forward, you have to take the best player.

Jones, Mackinnon, Barkov, Drouin, and Nichushkin are the top 5. I would pick any of those over Nurse, and one of them will be guaranteed to be available.

— Posted by hurricane04343

From Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor.

&quot;I think the top four [Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov] all could be NHL-ready,&quot; NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said during a press event Friday outside the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel overlooking the Hudson River. &quot;If any of them were to make a team out of training camp, that would not surprise me.&quot;

&quot;The event Friday featured Central Scouting's top six North American skaters: Jones, a defenseman with the Portland Winterhawks; Halifax Mooseheads teammates MacKinnon and Drouin; Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Darnell Nurse ... &quot; Each believes he will find himself in the NHL next season and is ready to contribute to whatever team drafts him.

Nichushkin will be available at 5 but people that following this for a living says that Nurse is the better pic.

hurricane04343Jun 26, 2013

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That's why they need to draft Nurse. It's possible they could trade for a defenseman before the draft,but if they don't, they need to draft Nurse; not a forward or another "offensive minded defenseman."

— Posted by Ken Heffner

I don't think that will happen. The top 5 prospects in this draft are being projected to be generational players. You always pick the best player available, not the best player at the position you need. Even if it is another forward, you have to take the best player.

Jones, Mackinnon, Barkov, Drouin, and Nichushkin are the top 5. I would pick any of those over Nurse, and one of them will be guaranteed to be available.

kheffnJun 26, 2013

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Cam deserves some help. Other teams don't leave their goalie out to dry the way the Canes did with Cam.

— Posted by Jeanne Gunn

That's why they need to draft Nurse. It's possible they could trade for a defenseman before the draft,but if they don't, they need to draft Nurse; not a forward or another &quot;offensive minded defenseman.&quot;

StunGunnJun 26, 2013

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If the Canes really do select a D-man, I sure hope it ISN'T the 'puck moving' kind - Canes have enough of them and while they are skilled at moving the puck, they just don't DEFEND worth a 'D---'. Hope he gets Cam some REAL help!!!!!

— Posted by wlcat609

Cam deserves some help. Other teams don't leave their goalie out to dry the way the Canes did with Cam.

juniorsk831Jun 26, 2013

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zzzzzz.uh..what...oh..hockey...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..

— Posted by rushbot

why are you even following the Canes if you have so little interest in the draft?

kheffnJun 26, 2013

No way Jones is there at 5. They should pick Darnell Nurse.

firefly27616Jun 26, 2013

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zzzzzz.uh..what...oh..hockey...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..

— Posted by rushbot

Never fails...some clown caught reading a hockey story and then whining about how boring hockey is...which always poses the million dollar question...why is the clown in here to begin with???

wlcat609Jun 26, 2013

If the Canes really do select a D-man, I sure hope it ISN'T the 'puck moving' kind - Canes have enough of them and while they are skilled at moving the puck, they just don't DEFEND worth a 'D---'. Hope he gets Cam some REAL help!!!!!

WagsJun 26, 2013

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zzzzzz.uh..what...oh..hockey...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..

— Posted by rushbot

Yeah...there's a story on Wimbleton that you would probably be interested in. Or maybe there's a good story on shuffleboard.